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It rained for Q2. The Althea Ducatis remain on top Sykes and Biaggi showing signs of figuring out the Moscow rhythm. The apparent fall in Melandri and Haslam's position may owe more to working on other Sunday setup question and rain than to not being able to turn a hot lap today.

The WorldSBK.com writer saw it this way: Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati) headed the qualifying timesheets after the second session this morning, but did not improve on his Friday time to do so.

His team-mate Carlos Checa made a faster lap today than Friday, but was unable to overhaul his young team-mate. Third into Superpole will be Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) with a great improvement evident from championship leader Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) who went fourth.

Sylvain Guintoli (PATA Racing Team Ducati) pushed himself to fifth, with Welsh wizard Chaz Davies (ParkinGO MTC Aprilia) sixth. Marco Melandri hopes for improvements in Superpole, as he was unable to go faster today than he did yesterday in finishing up seventh.

American John Hopkins was a convincing Superpole qualifier on his FIX Crescent Suzuki machine, eighth fastest.

Worldsbk.com: Carlos Checa (Althea Racing Ducati) made a late push to be fastest in the second qualifying session, setting a lap time almost at the track best. Jonathan Rea (Honda World Superbike Team) made great strides in this session and was fastest until near the end, when he and his team-mate Hiroshi Aoyama almost collided and Rea has to run wide, crashing at the end of turn one. He was ranked second, one place up in this session on Davide Giugliano (Althea Racing Ducati).

Max Biaggi (Aprilia Racing) was in the top four, and Tom Sykes took his Kawasaki Racing Team machine to fifth place. The charging Leon Haslam (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) was sixth, and one spot ahead of his team-mate Marco Melandri in the last session before the Tissot-Superpole sessions for the top 16 riders start later this afternoon.

Althea racing looked to be on the way to a one two on the starting grid as the third session began but Guigliano crashed in his opening lap and did not return. No report on his condition at this time. Rea, Laverty then Sykes took their turns at the top of the SP3 chart until Checa took P1 roughly have way through the session.

The BMW riders may not have had a spectacular round of Superpoles but come out in very good position for the race. Haslam was very consistent today. He starts Sunday's races on the outside of Row 1. Melandri seemed to have to work a bit harder than Haslam. He will start P5 on the inside of Row 2.

The rain remains in the forecast for tomorrow. Reports have been predicting light rain early with 70% chance of showers in the afternoon.

Checa and the rest of the Ducati riders that take the grid on Sunday have the advantage of a package balanced for technical tracks and wet conditions. Checa is the master of smooth riding. Barring a crash he should take two podiums with the step being the only question in my mind.

The BMW riders should have a solid showing. The S1000RRv2 is handling Moscow much better than the v1 would have.

Haslam's times are very consistent and building. The Row 1 start will have him in good position to take an early lead. He has had problems holding on to that lead. With limited chances to overtake and the strength of the RR in the front straight he should do well.

Melandri has shown well too but as SP3 closed he seemed to be reaching a plateau. His Row 2 starting position puts him in a good spot to move past some front row riders. While he is able to show well in qualifying his strength is in how he manages himself and his bike over the length of a race while turning in consistent yet improving times. It is not inconceivable that BMW and Ducati will control the top four spots at the end of Race 1 with the order being the big question.

Laverty put Aprilia on the front row. In session after session once he was warmed up he moved toward the top of the charts without too much trouble and showed consistent times. On the other hand Rider Championship leader Biaggi seemed to struggle more during each session putting his best lap times up on the very last lap.

Fast qualifying times give you grid position. The ability to put strong laps together over the length of a race give you podium positions. I do not know that either Aprilia rider has Moscow figured out enough to put their bikes on the race podium.

Sykes and his Kawasaki just plain old fashion bother me. Always fast in qualifying he is on Row 1. He has a chance to win the race to turn 3 and in a rain shortened race that is very important. In a full race the combination of tyre and brake wear keep him off the podium at Moscow. The darn weatherman and Sykes qualifying ability have me nervous.

Honda's Rea P6 and Aoyama P12 should not be discounted. Moscow is very Ducati friendly for qualifying and and should be very Honda friendly over the length of a race. A strong race start for either Honda rider will have them in position to pick off grid front runners if they falter during the race. I am fine with them picking of Aprilias just leave the BMWs alone.

Hopkins and Camier did not have a good Superpole session for FIXI Crescent Suzuki. The Suzuki package is improving each race weekend and would seem to be on a par with Honda until qualifying. Weather and effort will make the difference on Sunday.

MotoGP Brno 2012

FP 3

MotoGP.com: Pedrosa’s lap of 1.56’209 was less than a tenth off the circuit record and over seven tenths ahead of Yamaha Factory Racing’s closest challenger Ben Spies, who left it until his final run to post his best time. Spies’ teammate Lorenzo, who was lapping consistently in the low 1.57s was unable to get close to Pedrosa’s top time with his hot lap at the end. Almost all riders were out on the softer option rear tyre, with track and ambient temperatures significantly lower than yesterday’s scorching temperatures.
Monster Yamaha Tech 3’s Andrea Dovizioso won the battle of the satellite Yamahas this morning finishing just fractionally behind Lorenzo, and marginally ahead of teammate Cal Crutchlow, now confirmed with the Tech 3 squad for another year, who looked to have found that extra bit of pace since yesterday’s outing. Ducati Team’s Valentino Rossi continued his and the team’s improved run of form finishing sixth, just over a second off Pedrosa. He narrowly edged out San Carlo Honda Gresini’s ?Łlvaro Bautista, who was the quickest of the satellite Hondas.
LCR Honda MotoGP’s Stefan Bradl could not quite match his fifth place from yesterday, but nonetheless looked strong, especially in the latter sectors of the track. Cardion AB Racing’s local rider Karel Abraham pleased his home fans by slotting his Desmosedici into ninth place, ahead of top CRT finisher Randy de Puniet on board his Power Electronics Aspar machine.

Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport showed a strong performance in today‘«÷s Superpole qualifying at the brand new ‘«£Moscow Raceway‘«ō (RUS). Despite yesterday‘«÷s issues with the soft tyres the squad qualified for the first and second rows. Factory rider Leon Haslam (GBR) will start the first ever Russian round of the FIM Superbike World Championship from fourth in the front row, followed by his team-mate Marco Melandri (ITA) who qualified fifth on his BMW S 1000 RR. PLEASE NOTE: Due to an unstable internet connection at Moscow Raceway only a slow upload of pictures to the photo section of our press club is possible. We thank you for your patience....More

It has been a difficult Saturday at the Moscow Raceway for the BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet Superbike Team. Michel Fabrizio and Ayrton Badovini finished Qualifying 2 outside the top-16 and consequently could not take part in the afternoon's Superpole. The two riders will start tomorrow's races from the fifth row on the grid in seventeenth and nineteenth positions respectively....More

Sunday, 26 August 2012 | Moscow SBK Race 1

Sykes takes the first World Superbike race at Moscow

Sykes took the early lead opening up a small gap over the field . By the end of lap 2 he was shown 0.986 seconds ahead of Laverty (Aprilia) followed by Haslam and Checa. By the end of the race the lead would expand to 6.135 seconds over the holder of P2.

The fighting behind Sykes the leader was peppered with battles and crashes. Carlos Checa was the first victim. Running in P4 he made his charge to pass P3 Haslam and P2 Laverty when he crashed shuffling Haslam and Laverty in the process.

Duels that resulted in passes seemed to drop the passed rider several spots as they were taken out of sequence. For example Haslam in P2 after the Checa crash held off Laverty for the next three laps. When Laverty made his pass Rea (Honda), Guigliano (Ducati) and Davies (Aprilia) squeezed past too. When the board finished its shuffle Haslam had gone from P2 to P6 two seconds ahead of teammate Melandri in P7.

Passes and crashes would shuffle the field for the rest of the race. Rea (then P3) was the next to crash. A few laps latter Guigliano was pressing the Ducati cause when he crashed out of P5. Some five laps latter Haslam would fall from P3 to P6 as the result of a crash. The final crash would come during lap 23. P4 Davies (Aprilia) passed Laverty for P3 then scored the final crash for Race 1.

Sykes took a six plus second victory for Kawasaki. In the process he showed the importance of being in the lead. As obvious as that may sound it is important to how teams will approach Race 2 and future qualifying and racing efforts at Moscow. Sykes set his last fast lap of the race with lap three. Other riders would rack up fast laps in their efforts to move up the field. At the start of lap four he was shown with a 3.367 second lead over Haslam in P2. For the rest of the race the maximum speeds show for the Kawasaki rider were down from the rest of the field yet his lead continued to increase while being able to conserve tyres and brakes in the process.

Melandri survived to take P2 on the podium. He turned in a workman effort in the process. He has race fast laps to his credit but was listed in the P6 of further back for much of the race. Patience is not something I normally associate with the Italian but he exercised it in Moscow and was rewarded with a podium finish for his efforts.

Haslam finished in P6 having been overtaken by BMW Itlaia's Fabrizio in the closing laps. He made a long hard fight of the race. By the end there was a sense of exhaustion from the efforts to press to the front, the crash and the fight to hold position there after. He won't be happy with this but he gave race fans a real scrap.

Biaggi took P3 in the end. Team orders? Laverty and Davies as expected carried the race Chianti for Aprilia through most of Race 1. While they were fighting for P2 rights Biaggi was back in the pack. Biaggi's podium is owed more to Davies' crash shuffling the field on lap 23 and Laverty allowing his teammate an easy pass on the following lap.

Canepa brought the first Ducati home in P7. He was followed by Zanetti's P8 Ducati. Clearly not what Ducati or I expected for the day. Sykes' win was done in a style very reminiscent of Checa's style. With few exceptions the duel winnings behind the leader did it by building on opportunities set up in Ducati fashion. The big problem for Ducati was in the fighting their two main contenders, Checa and Guigliano, Change the winners of duels in the very first laps of Race 2 and either of these Ducati riders could be on top.

A this time I have no information on any injuries as a result of crashes.

Sunday, 26 August 2012 | Moscow SBK Race 2

Race two began much the same way as Race 1 with Sykes being quickest off the line and taking an early lead. Laverty (Aprilia) was in P2 followed by Haslam and Melandri.

While Sykes was trying to open a lead on Laverty, Haslam and Melandri played hot potato with P3 swapping positions several times until seven laps were complete and Melandri took possession of P3 then handed the P3 hot potato to Laverty on the following lap.

The field behind these three was a bloody battle ground. With Haslam in P4, Rea P5, Checa P6 and Biaggi P7 and charging. With 8 laps complete Biaggi over took Checa. What happens next will need to be sorted out. Live timing flashed 'Haslam Crash'. As the board cycled both Haslam and Biaggi disappeared to the bottom and did not return.

From this point to Lap 14 things quieted down. Rea moved to P3 but beyond that riders seemed to be feeling each other out, pressing in the tight sections to set up and advantage at the end of sector 3.

As 14 laps were complete I jotted in my note behind Melandri “is he setting him up?” Melandri's times stretch and closed in comparison to Sykes in this period. There was no clear trend in Sectors 1 and 2 but Melandri was slowly reeling in Sykes and his Kawasaki in sector 3. As the board cycled to show 15 laps complete and the standings Melandri was listed in P1.

During the next three laps I wondered about Sykes setting up for a pass much as his opponent did but he was not able to do it. Unlike race 1 where Sykes had been able to take an early lead, hold it and conserve his tyres and brakes in the process; this race he had been pressed and passed. In the final laps it was the Melandri's S1000RR that could continue to open an incremental lead by being ridden hard while the Kawasaki Z was used up for the task.

Behind this duo Rea and Laverty were hard at each other playing their version of hot potato with P3.
Rea and Laverty would crash on the last lap. Rea was able to come back to be listed in P7 while Laverty is listed as retired.

The news will no doubt be filled with comments, recriminations and defenses of the crashes. Race two started with three riders crashing out on the first lap, Haslam and Biaggi will no doubt result in much ink and Moscow ended with the Rea and Laverty incidents.

Moscow was a very exciting track. In many ways the races played out as expected but without Ducati riders in the lead. The importance of qualifying can not be overstressed. If you do not make it to Superpole 3 the battle to the front is to much. That said the Ducs qualified well but did not have the speed to win the race to turn three and never were able to overcome the fights behind the leaders.

Patience was a lesson most riders in Race 2 learned from Race 1. The combat behind the leader will be fierce. Patience is required to set up for a pass in sector three and the main straight rather than muscling you way past in the early parts of a lap. That is the formula for a crash.

Moscow shows how far the S1000RRv2 has come from the v1. Tyre management was the Achilles heel of the v1. While the bike has had the muscle since it has appeared it did not have the handling balance required to run the entire race. With the v2 Melandri was able to charge in the opening laps, engage in combat in the mid race, pass for the lead then protect and extend it to a victory.

This was a great way for BMW to start the second half of the season. Now on to the Nurburgring.

Team BMW Motorrad Motorsport has reason to celebrate again: at the first ever Russian round of the FIM Superbike World Championship, factory rider Marco Melandri (ITA) took the lead in the Rider’s Classification by winning race two and finishing second in race one at “Moscow Raceway”. It is another milestone, as Marco is the first BMW rider to top this classification. In the Manufacturer’s Ranking, BMW further increased its lead. In addition, BMW Motorrad Motorsport claimed the fastest lap time in both races, with Leon Haslam (GBR) in heat one and Marco in race two...More

Today was the final day of the historic first Russian World Superbike round at the Moscow Raceway and the BMW Motorrad Italia GoldBet Superbike Team was on track for the usual two Sunday races. Michel Fabrizio finished fifth in the first race and was the innocent victim of a crash in the following one. Ayrton Badovini finished race 1 in twelfth position and he crossed the line in eighth place in race 2. More

Ups and downs on the North Sea coast: After a difficult qualifying on Saturday, the BMW DTM drivers worked their way towards the front of the field in Sunday’s race at the “Circuit Park Zandvoort” (NL). Bruno Spengler (CA), Dirk Werner (DE) and Augusto Farfus (BR) all fought their way into the top ten. More

oregon.gov/OPRD: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department – State Parks
Official information on all state park campgrounds and day-use sites. Maps, driving directions, special events and virtual 3D panoramic photos.

[url=http://traveloregon.com/ [/url]: Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, doing business as Travel Oregon, is a semi-independent agency created by the Oregon Legislature in 2003 to enhance Oregonians’ quality of life by strengthening economic impacts of the state’s $8.7 billion tourism industry.

Husqvarna Enduro Team by CH Racing , riders Juha Salminen and Alex Salvini enjoyed podium success at the sixth round of the Enduro World Championship, the GP of Sweden, with Salminen winning the Enduro 2 class on day one before again finishing on the podium on day two in second. Salvini, who had a day to forget on day one, bounced back in style to place third in class on day two ‘«Ű the Italians second podium result of the series...More

oregon.gov/OPRD: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department ‘«Ű State Parks
Official information on all state park campgrounds and day-use sites. Maps, driving directions, special events and virtual 3D panoramic photos.

[url=http://traveloregon.com/ [/url]: Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, doing business as Travel Oregon, is a semi-independent agency created by the Oregon Legislature in 2003 to enhance Oregonians‘«÷ quality of life by strengthening economic impacts of the state‘«÷s $8.7 billion tourism industry.

Wednesday, 29 August

Motorrad gives some tantalizing pictures certain to raise as many questions as they answer.

S 1000 RS
The national heads of the various BMW Motorrad divisions have long been calling for a stripped down sport bike. The corporate types have resisted fearing all such a bike would do would be cannibalize an already shrinking rider base for the S1000RR. Changes in leadership, changes in market (other brands have slowly been chipping away at the Triumph Speed Triples hold on the hooligan segment) or finally reaching some point in a long term product plan riders may have an option from BMW in the near future.

R Bikes
The article has a collection of WasserBoxer spy photos.

There is a collection of GS spy photos in the article.

The GS is the feature model with suggestion the RT will make the move at the same time or shortly after the GS intorduction. The writers at Motorrad support the idea the new engine and drive train will move through the R line incrementally. Rider/Buyers snatching up Hexheads before their model is replace may want to wait.

The pictures suggest an updated R1200R for next year. If sport riding/touring is to your liking the article drops a hint of a ST model to be added to the R lineup.

F Bikes
Let's cut past discussing the confusing to many F/GS news. Pictures of a revised F/ST will add fuel to the fire of BMW F watchers. No it is not a F/RT. The F line has always emphasized sport. I never expected an RT even if you did. What I did expect was what this revised ST appears to have: an improved fairing for the F line. The after market will quickly make an adaptable touring windshield and real bags for you.

This and other articles certain to hit the presses in the next few weeks will fuel discussion. Intermot Cologne runs from October 3 ‘«Ű 7. A major show in the Motherhip homeland and largest sales market is a likely stage for introductions of new models and line. The wait for answers from BMW to our questions and hopes may be just a few calendar pages away.

What this article does not really hint at is speculation about a bombshell bike and the true concept bike for the coming year. The bombshell I would like to see explode in real life is a production model Concept 6. Concept bikes are the Christmas package your parents successfully hid from you and blows you away. I can't wait until the pictures and press release start flowing from Intermot!

P.S.
I have been talking about the BMW Blue Line of motorcycles. They have been busy with their Husqvarna Red Line too. No doubt the known new Red Line bikes will be shown at Intermot; however, don't expect everything to be shown or even hinted at in Cologne. The Reds need to need to show their stuff while not taking away the Blue Line's thunder. More street bikes and variations on the Nuda line are expected. Look for the big release of an off road bike, a new concept and a possible showing of the rumored 2-stroke street goer to happen at EICMA 2012 held in Milan, November 15th ‘«Ű 18th.

This is where it really counts: the participants in the 2012 Formula BMW Talent Cup used an extra, exclusive on-track event at the EuroSpeedway Lausitz (DE) to hone their skills ahead of their biggest highlight of the season. The winner of this year‘«÷s Formula BMW Talent Cup will be determined at the ‘«£Grand Final‘«ō in Oschersleben (DE, September 14-16), when the training series shares the bill with the DTM. The driver who comes out on top after the three races can look forward to an extremely attractive prize: BMW will support them financially for an entire season in a higher-level racing series....More

oregon.gov/OPRD: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department ‘«Ű State Parks
Official information on all state park campgrounds and day-use sites. Maps, driving directions, special events and virtual 3D panoramic photos.

travelorengon.com: Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, doing business as Travel Oregon, is a semi-independent agency created by the Oregon Legislature in 2003 to enhance Oregonians‘«÷ quality of life by strengthening economic impacts of the state‘«÷s $8.7 billion tourism industry.

[ul=Woodcliff Lake, NJ - August 29th, 2012 ‘«™ The BMW X6 Sports Activity Coupe, Z4 Roadster, 1 Series Coupe were ranked highest of their respective segments in the 2012 Total Quality Index‘šů (TQI) study conducted by Strategic Vision. Total Quality measures how closely the experience of quality matches the explicit desires of the customer...More

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. ‘«Ű August 29, 2012‘«™ With only three races left in the 2012 American Le Mans Series season a third consecutive GT class championship remains the goal of BMW Team RLL. This weekend, the venue is the Baltimore Sports Car Challenge, a two-hour race through the city streets that surround Baltimore‘«÷s Inner Harbor. In comparison with many of the other tracks the series sees, Baltimore‘«÷s temporary two-mile, 12-turn circuit is analogous to a wrestling steel cage match. Concrete walls on both sides mean there is only one way out - forward to the checkered flag. There will be many competitors, but as the last year has demonstrated, only one real opponent ‘«Ű Corvette...More

The Moscow International Automobile Salon, which will be held from 31 August to 9 September 2012 at the Crocus Expo Exhibition Center, is, undoubtedly, a key automotive business event in Russia. At its stand, the BMW Group will showcase new automobiles and off-road vehicles as well as the European premiere of a concept car...More

John Cooper Works models and motor sport take centre stage at the brand‘«÷s show stand in the Russian capital.[urll=https://www.press.bmwgroup.com/pressclub/p/pcgl/pressDetail.html?title=mini-at-the-moscow-international-motor-show-2012&outputChannelId=6&id=T0130645EN&left_menu_item=node__2202 ]..More

BMW Group Press Conference Moscow International Automobile Salon 29 August 2012 More

The Goodwood Revival Festival reels its visitors into the glamour and allure of bygone days like no other historic race event. Held annually since 1998, it has a unique way of recreating the atmosphere of the 1940s to 1960s and today ranks among the world‘«÷s most renowned motor race meetings. It is also a regular highlight of BMW Group Classic‘«÷s calendar. ...More

oregon.gov/OPRD: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department ‘«Ű State Parks
Official information on all state park campgrounds and day-use sites. Maps, driving directions, special events and virtual 3D panoramic photos.

[url=http://traveloregon.com/ [/url]: Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, doing business as Travel Oregon, is a semi-independent agency created by the Oregon Legislature in 2003 to enhance Oregonians‘«÷ quality of life by strengthening economic impacts of the state‘«÷s $8.7 billion tourism industry.

Munich. Several new BMW Motorrad products will see their trade fair premiere at this year's INTERMOT in Cologne from October 3rd - 7th 2012, including the new BMW F 700 GS and the new BMW HP4. BMW Motorrad will also be presenting a world premiere: the successor model to the BMW R 1200 GS...More

Computer Mouse designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA revolutionizes the world of gaming. A futuristic piece of High Tech gives a boost to electronic gaming / Global product launch of Thermaltake??s Level 10 M Mouse in August 2012...More

oregon.gov/OPRD: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department ‘«Ű State Parks
Official information on all state park campgrounds and day-use sites. Maps, driving directions, special events and virtual 3D panoramic photos.

traveloregon.com : Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, doing business as Travel Oregon, is a semi-independent agency created by the Oregon Legislature in 2003 to enhance Oregonians‘«÷ quality of life by strengthening economic impacts of the state‘«÷s $8.7 billion tourism industry.

motomatters.com: The Spies enigma ‘«Ű Where will Ben Spies be in 2013
FWIW: Motomatters does a good job of laying out the question from the view of Spies and a fan might have. If you are BMW the clock is running out for a decision if it has not already done so.

BMW is in the final laps of its first real championship bid in WSBK. The distractions of the reorganization decision has caused enough confusion. Melandri and a some crew members are going to be with BMW in 2013. Others will likely stay but are hedging their bets by shopping themselves around. Then there are those team members that know they will be with other teams or watching the 2013 season from home. All are under contract for 2012 and need to perform their roles to bring the championship to Munich.

Ben Spies may be a very desirable rider to team with Melandri for a variety of reasons. But is he worth extending the paddock distractions for a team in leading the championship at this time. The time is at hand. The decision has to be sooner than latter. The time between the 2012 and 2013 season can be spent much pleasantly sorting things out while polishing a championship trophy.

Munich/Shanghai. To meet the rigorous demands of time trial athletes, NeilPryde Bikes is introducing the new Bayamo and Bayamo+, the third line of frames created through the ongoing partnership with BMW Group DesignworksUSA‘«÷s team in Asia...More

Woodcliff Lake, NJ ‘«Ű August 31st, 2012‘«™ The iconic BMW M5 Sedan and M6 Coupe went on sale in the US last week after a two year hiatus. They are more powerful, more athletic, more luxurious and more efficient than ever before. They join the all-new BMW M6 Convertible which first arrived in US BMW Center showrooms last month. For more than a quarter century, the BMW M5 and M6 have exemplified the luxury and daily versatility of a true BMW combined with all-out supercar performance...More

The world‘«÷s leading manufacturer of luxury products has made its debut at the Moscow International Motor Show, following a significant increase in Rolls-Royce sales in the last 18 months. Russia has taken an increasing share in the Rolls-Royce global success story and the Moscow presentation featured two important debuts for the brand...More

oregon.gov/OPRD: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department ‘«Ű State Parks
Official information on all state park campgrounds and day-use sites. Maps, driving directions, special events and virtual 3D panoramic photos.

[url=http://traveloregon.com/ [/url]: Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, doing business as Travel Oregon, is a semi-independent agency created by the Oregon Legislature in 2003 to enhance Oregonians‘«÷ quality of life by strengthening economic impacts of the state‘«÷s $8.7 billion tourism industry.

hondaproracing.com: The fight for the 2012 Endurance World Championship title will reach its climax this weekend at the final round of the year– the 35th edition of the prestigious 24 Heures du Mans in France.

Husqvarna Enduro Team by CH Racing team rider Juha Salminen continued his battle for the 2012 Enduro 2 World Championship title at his home round of the series, the GP of Finland held in Heinola, where the eight-time EWC champion collected two hard fought third place results. Looking to close the gap on E2 class leader Pierre-Alexandre Renet, Juha frustratingly found himself unable to beat the Frenchman despite two strong performances in front of his home fans. One-and-a-half minutes from the top spot on day one following a costly fall on the enduro test, Juha pushed hard throughout day two and despite an early crash closed to within 45 seconds of the top of the podium...More

The treacherous sand track of Lierop, Holland played host to the third to last GP of a long 2012 MX season. Saturday’s qualifying saw Alessandro Lupino take fifteenth place, followed by Ivo Monticelli, marking up his best qualifying time so far, both on the new Husqvarna TC250R. Nick Triest was out of the running still battling with an injury to his left shoulder. Lupino began the first heat amongst the main group with Monticelli close behind as the race got underway. Alessandro made a fine effort to make up ground reaching ninth place close behind the leader’s group. Unluckily, a fall made him lose pace before finally finishing in eleventh place. More

As Executive Personal Assistant to Nelson Mandela, Zelda La Grange has had an amazing life, travelling with the former South African President on more than 180 trips abroad, meeting world leaders, royalty, celebrities, and coordinating his itinerary, travel arrangements, security and transport. Always by his side in both public and private – at home and abroad – she has remained in Mandela’s ...More

Woodcliff Lake, N.J. – September 1, 2012… BMW Team RLL experienced a disappointing day at the Baltimore Sports Car Challenge after a controversial call by the race steward took the lead of the race away from the No. 55 M3 GT on lap 21 with a one minute penalty for avoidable contact. Ultimately finishing in eighth place, the call ended what could have been a great day for Bill Auberlen and J?¬rg M??ller. ..More

Munich/Shanghai. Justin Rose is hoping to use the BMW Masters to overtake US PGA Champion and World Number One Rory McIlroy in The Race to Dubai when the Ryder Cup team-mates go head-to-head at Lake Malaren Golf Club from 25th to 28th October..More

The new BMW 114d Sports Hatch. The BMW 3 Series Saloon increases engine offering. Extended engine range for BMW 3 Series Touring. New generation of BMW Navigation system Professional now available in the BMW 3 Series Saloon. ..More

Following the recent opening of the first Rolls-Royce Motor Cars showroom at Rama 3 in Bangkok, the company announced plans to open a unique new boutique in Central Bangkok, the first of its kind in Asia...More

jsonline.com: Harley-Davidson dealers survey: Sales down in July and August, but inventories remain lean
FWIW: Inventories were a major problem for H-D during the big downturn which negatively impacted price and production during the recent recovery. Many economist describe Europe in the same terms they did the US in 2008. BMW could be facing some very serious times in its home market. BMW ahs managed its production and inventory levels very carefully during the past four years. BMW may not think they have much to learn from H-D design; however there are lessons to learn, both positive and negative, from their business practices.

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – September 4, 2012… The BMW Group in the U.S. (BMW and MINI combined) reported August sales …
BMW Motorrad Sales
BMW Motorrad USA reported sales of 1,227 motorcycles in August, an increase of 11.3 percent from the total of 1,102 motorcycles sold in August 2011. Year-to-date, BMW Motorrad is up 15.6 percent on sales of 8,707 compared to 7,535 sold in the first eight months of 2011. In August the best performing models included the S 1000 RR, with sales of 238 units; and the K 1600 GTL with 165 sales....More

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – September 4, 2012… Making its debut in Indianapolis, the 2012 BMW Championship will “kick-off” at Lucas Oil Stadium on Tuesday, September 4 when PGA TOUR pro and Indiana native Bo Van Pelt attempts to drive a golf ball the length of the field and through a target hung between the far uprights. Van Pelt will be joined by former Indianapolis Colts TE Ken Dilger and American Le Mans Series (ALMS) champion and BMW Team RLL driver Joey Hand, who will each attempt the shot from a tee box constructed in the far end zone. A full scholarship valued at $100,000 in the name of the first person to make the shot will be donated to the Evans Scholars Foundation, the nation's largest privately funded tuition and housing scholarship program...More

Cage World

FWIW

SBK goes to “The Green Hell” aka known as BMW SBK home track aka the Nurburgring. The track is infamous for weather conditions in general and specifically weather conditions that can be drastically different from one end to the other. This has been a whimsical season for the SBK weatherman so naturally he has gone against norm and predicted a sunny race weekend with Superpole Saturday the only day with a chance of rain; then only a 20% chance at that.

If SBK were a stick and ball sport, down at the Official Fly-Over-Land Coffee Shop, we would be talking about teams needing to make a move if they want to be a champion while those out front in the standings need to start putting teams away or let them hang around and gain momentum. It is not. Even with a double BMW could not put the championship away at the Nurburgring. There are six races and 150 points up for grab before the season ends.Yet BMW is in the Manufacturer Championship lead and needs to show it can do just that.

BMW 361 pts
Nurburgring has consistently been on the SBK calendar since 2008. The home track to BMW has been friendly to BMW but has not yielded a win for them yet. This year it comes at a point in the season where things are sorted out for riders and team.

Despite the seemingly long straights (straight or slightly bent) that should favor the powerful, the combinations of slow and fast turns that determine how you do in the straights are just as important. Get the corners wrong and you are down shifting at the wrong sport and rolling on to late to carry speed through the corner and into the straight.

The S1000RRv2 is a better balance bike than its predecessors. The bike is at the perfect season development point to come home. The riders and team are comfortable with each other to understand how to wring the most out of it.

Haslam: In my stick and ball sport days we would have called his season 'snake bit' so far. His results understate his performance in my book. This weekend he should have a great chance to change that a bit. In 2010 for Suzuki he qualified 5th and place P6 and P3 on Sunday. For BMW with a .v1 he qualified 7th and P5 and P9 in a rainy second race. His 2012 bike is far superior to either bike he had on those days. If he can keep the snakes at bay he should have a very strong day.

Melandri: In 2010 this year's current Rider Championship leader qualified P4 scoring a P2 in the first and a P6 in the rainy second. I expect he will perform better overall in 2012.

Aprilia 334.5 pts
Q: Is the Aprilia up to scratch at the Nurburgring?
A: Yes and No.

Moscow suggest that in the hands of Laverty and Davies the bike will be a strong contender for BMW or anyone else to deal with. Both riders were able to take their Aprilias around the tight sections of Moscow with alacrity and take advantage of the RSV4 Factory's power in the straight. The Nurburgring requires a similar combination.

In the hands of Biaggi it could go either way. His riding style takes full advantage of Aprilia power and brakes but not the chassis. That combination of wrist and brakes has taken him a long way and could yield big results if he does not repeat his Moscow ride. If he does 'The Green Hell” will exacerbate everything that went wrong for him in Russia.

BMW can not “put Aprilia away” this weekend. However, it must finish ahead of them. That alone will say much about the BMW Team and where it will finish the season.

Ducati 322 pts
Balance is Ducati's middle name. This would appear to make the Nurburgring ideal for it. In 2011 Checa took the pole for Ducati and the win in Race 1, P8 in Race 2. In the second race Guintoli pulled a podium P2. Look back over the other seasons and the Ducati balance has played well at this track. The case for Ducati appears to be strong but it does not have the legs the other marques have and they have cut deeply into the Ducati handling edge.

The Ducati could play a role in dealing with Aprilia but they are more likely to be fighting to hold their current championship standing.

Kawasaki 298.5 pts
Team Green at the Green Hell... scary _____!

In 2010 the Z with Sykes on board qualified 7th and post a Race 1 P5 and Race 2 P7. In 2011 he qualified 6th. Race 1 he could only manage a P11 but took the win in Race 2. The 2012 Zed is another story.

Expect Sykes to be on top or near the top in qualifying. The question on Sunday is will he run his tyres off before the end of the race or contain himself much as he did in Race 1 at Moscow. If Sykes does destroy his tyres Baz should be there to carry the fight for Kawasaki. I don't expect him to qualify as well as Sykes but on race day he could be the better performer in the long run. Both with their Green Machines are capable of beating the Aprilias. That is fine. Can the BMW riders deal with them if they do?

Honda 221.5 pts | Suzuki 93.5 pts
I fully expect Honda to retain a lead over Suzuki for the rest of the season. The reason to combine them ( beyond being lazy and saving space) is the arc of their seasons crossed in Moscow; at least in my book.

Honda hit a plateau earlier in the season and is dropping. Suzuki has been building on the other hand and heading upward.

Will Rea's MotoGP test fire up the racing juices for him or prove a distraction leading to disappointment. I suspect the latter. At Suzuki the riders are healing every day and beat Honda in Race 2 at Moscow.

The big question is can either of these teams help BMW contain Aprilia and Ducati?

That will be one of things we will debate down at the Official Fly-Over-Land Coffee Shop this weekend. The other will be cherry or apple fritters? I need to do research in preponderation for that debate. Have to go.

bbc.co.uk: Hamilton set for a Mercedes move
-related-reutuers.com: McLaren say no truth in Hamilton to Mercedes report
FWIW: Been leaving the F1 Silly season alone this year. The British papers have been spilling much ink over this. Hamilton is going to sign. Hamilton deal close. Hamilton more important to McLaren's future than Button. Hamilton to replace Schumacher at Mercedes. All the time Hamilton is not getting his pen out and time marches on. Mercedes would not be a good place for Hamilton if he wants to win another championship. At least that is what the consensus is at the Fly-Over-Land Coffee Shop.

New World and National Records For BMW Motorcycles Andy Sills and Erin Hunter Pilot the BMW S 1000 RR asto New Heights at Bonneville

Woodcliff Lake, NJ – September 5, 2012… Legendary landspeed racer Andy Sills claimed another world record riding solo on a 2012 BMW S 1000 RR at the BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials on August 29. Sills recorded a flying mile two-way average speed of 204.784 mph, setting a new FIM record in the Partially Streamlined Naturally Aspirated 1000 cc class at the famed Bonneville Salt Flats, west of Salt Lake City, Utah. Sills bested the previous world record set in 2009 by more than four-and-a-half miles per hour.

Erin Hunter, also an accomplished landspeed racer and ambassador for women in the sport, set an AMA national record on the same BMW S 1000 RR with a top speed of 207.758 and a two-way average of 205.566 mph (besting the previous record by over six miles per hour) at the Bonneville event.

“We’ve had the good fortune to race a number of different bikes throughout our careers, including streamliners,” commented Erin, “and the BMW S 1000 RR is incredibly stable at high speeds. The super stable platform allows us to focus on our racing skills without having to worry about the performance of the bike. You can trust it and go all out.”

“Andy and Erin contacted me about a week before the trials and asked if I could provide them with an S 1000 RR for Bonneville,” said Gary Orr, co-owner and general manager of San Diego BMW Motorcycles. “We’ve been successfully prepping race bikes for them for the past several years, so we were happy to help them out again.”

Orr and his mechanics took the production bike and installed a BMW HP Race Powerkit, a LeoVince SBK exhaust pipe, and race body work. In the meantime, Brock’s Performance shipped Orr a suspension lowering kit. With little time to spare, the race-ready S 1000 RR was delivered to Andy and Erin the day before they left for Bonneville. The couple had FastSkinz race vinyl added to the bike at the BUB event.

Now in its 9th year, the Bonneville BUB Motorcycle Speed Trials continue to be solely dedicated to motorcycles. The event offers world and national record breaking opportunities and attracts top contenders in many classes.

Andy Sills and Erin Hunter are avid high-speed riders with a combined 17 years of landspeed racing competition. Together, they have earned 19 world and national landspeed records with streamliner motorcycles as well as traditional race bikes. They hold a Guinness World Record for the fastest speed on a motorcycle ridden by two people simultaneously – a record achieved on a 2011 BMW S 1000 RR reaching an average two-way speed of 181.426 mph at the Bonneville Salt Flats where Andy was the rider for the qualification run (with Erin as the pillion passenger) and they switched for the record return run – with Erin as the rider and Andy as the pillion passenger. Erin also is named in the Guinness Book of World Records as the fastest female with a World Record in a streamliner motorcycle.

Andy became known in the BMW community in 2005 for setting the FIM land speed record of approximately 176 mph on the BMW K 1200 S at Bonneville, during BUB’s Speed Trials. The dynamic duo will continue to race the 2012 S 1000 RR this year and next with the goal of setting new speed records. Avid BMW riders, their San Francisco garage also houses an HP2 Sport, an R1200 S and a K 1300 S.

Piloting a wide range of two wheel machines across the Bonneville Salt Flats, Andy Sills has 7 land speed records under his belt. "With the throttle wide open I concentrate on being smart and being safe ... by mile four, achieving top speed a peace comes over you. You're alone on an 11 mile course in the high desert with a sense of being totally 'in the moment'... it's a great place!"

S1000RR BMW 1000cc Bonneville World Of Speed Production Record 2010

Helping Andy Sills raise the 194mph "1000cc Production" Bonneville record to 196mph on his S1000RR BMW.

In 2009, Erin Hunter was one of three women in America nominated for the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) Female Rider of the Year.

Also in 2009, Erin had the honor of sharing her racing story as a keynote speaker at the AMA's Women in Motorcycling event in Keystone, Colorado.

Erin is most proud, however, of her work as an ambassador for the sport of Landspeed Racing, and in particular her role in encouraging women to discover the sport. Erin is the founder of the sheEmoto Award which she bestows on the female LSR racer who best embodies what it means to participate.

"I am grateful to have accomplished a lot in my life, and I owe this success to people who never said 'girls don't do that', but instead said 'go for it!'", says Erin.

Premiere of xDrive in the BMW 1 Series – new entry models BMW 114d and BMW 316i – BMW 320i EfficientDynamics Edition as the most fuel-efficient petrol- driven model – BMW 3 Series Touring with new, exceptionally economical diesel engines – EU6 classification for further models of the BMW 1 Series, the BMW 3 Series and the BMW X1...More

Munich Automobiles appointed as local authorised dealer. Debut of the World’s Most Powerful Six-Cylinder Diesel Engine...More

oregon.gov/OPRD: Oregon Parks and Recreation Department ‘«Ű State Parks
Official information on all state park campgrounds and day-use sites. Maps, driving directions, special events and virtual 3D panoramic photos.

[url=http://traveloregon.com/ [/url]: Travel Oregon
The Oregon Tourism Commission, doing business as Travel Oregon, is a semi-independent agency created by the Oregon Legislature in 2003 to enhance Oregonians‘«÷ quality of life by strengthening economic impacts of the state‘«÷s $8.7 billion tourism industry.